London, Jan 17 (EFE).- The British Government made effective today the blockade of the law to facilitate gender change that was approved by the autonomous Parliament of Scotland in December, considering that it would have “adverse effects” for women and girls and that it would establish “two different regimes of recognition” within the UK.
Minister of Scotland
The Minister for Scotland, Alister Jack, appeared before the House of Commons to detail the reasons why he has invoked for the first time section 35 of the law that created Scottish autonomy in 1998, by virtue of which the central Executive can veto legislation that it considers negatively affects issues where London has jurisdiction.
“I assume this is an important decision,” Jack said. Section 35 is not new, it has not been created by this Government, but has existed since decentralization took place. We must be clear, the architects of decentralization included it in the law for a reason.
The reform promoted by the Scottish chief minister, the nationalist Nicola Sturgeon, lowers the age to change gender from 18 to 16 years, and eliminates the need to present medical reports and other evidence to request the transition.
The British minister argued before the deputies that the legislation conflicts with the British law on equality passed in 2010.
It also has an impact on the operation of “single-sex clubs, associations and schools” as well as “protections such as equal pay,” argued Jack, who also cited “the concern of many citizens and groups about the impact of the law on women and girls.
The order to activate section 35 cannot be reversed by the autonomous Parliament of Holyrood (Edinburgh), so the Scottish Executive now has two options, either amend the law and process it again, or initiate legal proceedings against the Government’s decision, as described by the Library of the House of Commons on its website.
Scottish National Party (SNP) MP Philippa Whitford argued that issues such as the voting age – 16 in Scotland – already differ within the UK, saying the London veto “just underscores that decentralization is actually a hollow concept ».
“Why are you choosing one of the most marginalized groups in society to start a battle against the Scottish Parliament?” Whitford questioned the British minister.
“Gender recognition is a transferred competence and (the legislation) does not change the Equality Act of 2010,” argued the nationalist deputy, who considered that the veto “is an unprecedented attack on the Scottish Parliament.”
This article is originally published on quepasamedia.com